Systems and methods for network traffic trunking

A computer-implemented method for sending data items in a link aggregate group, the method comprising:

• determining whether a data item qualifies for relaxed transmission ordering;
• if the data item qualifies for relaxed transmission ordering, selecting a network link with a largest available capacity from a plurality of network links of the link aggregate group, and sending the data item to the selected network link, the plurality of network links connecting a first computing device to a second computing device;
• and
• otherwise, selecting a network link from the plurality of network links of the link aggregate group, based on contents of the data item and sending the data item to the selected network link.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions comprising executable code that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• determining whether a network packet received via a computer network qualifies for relaxed packet ordering;
• if the network packet qualifies for relaxed packet ordering, selecting a network link with a largest available capacity from a plurality of network links of a link aggregate group, and sending the network packet to the selected network link, the plurality of network links connecting a first computing device to a second computing device;
• and
• otherwise, selecting a network link from the plurality of network links of the link aggregate group, based on contents of the network packet and sending the network packet to the selected network link.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• one or more computer-readable media comprising programmed instructions stored thereon, the apparatus configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions to:
• determine whether a network packet received via a computer network qualifies for relaxed packet ordering;
• if the network packet qualifies for relaxed packet ordering, select a network link with a largest available capacity from a plurality of network links of a link aggregate group, and sending the network packet to the selected network link, the plurality of network links connecting a first computing device to a second computing device;
• and
• otherwise, select a network link from the plurality of network links of the link aggregate group, based on contents of the network packet and sending the network packet to the selected network link.